Saints Triumph with Pitcher’s Resilient One-Hit Performance

St. Charles East’s Hannah Wulf showcased a remarkable performance, as any pitcher tossing a no-hitter through five innings might expect a smoother journey. Despite the challenges, Wulf continued undeterred.

“I honestly didn’t know I was throwing a no-hitter until they got that one hit and then somebody told me,” Wulf, a South Carolina recruit, stated. “I try not to think about a no-hitter in the middle of it. As a pitcher, I feel it’s kind of superstitious, so I try not to think about it the whole game because if I do, then somebody will get a hit.”

On Saturday, Wulf delivered a one-hitter in a 1-0 victory over Fremd, during the Class 4A Bartlett Sectional championship game. She struck out eight but allowed multiple baserunners, hitting four and walking two.

Coach Jarod Gutesha praised Wulf’s performance, especially under pressure. “When she needed to come through, she was clutch,” he said. “She was great for us. Both pitchers had to pitch through a tight zone. A 1-0 game is a testament to the way they both pitched.” Senior right-hander Molly Kanupke, representing Fremd, struck out six and surrendered five hits and three walks.

In the sixth, Morgan Beers capitalized with a single, eventually scoring the decisive run for the Saints, who advance to face Marist.

“It was a crazy game with all those hit by pitches,” said Wulf, who addressed the accidental nature of hitting Fremd’s Emily Usalis twice. “It wasn’t her fault – it was all me.”

Coach Gutesha noted that hitters do not crowd the plate against Wulf, who possesses a curveball effective against right-handers. Wulf confirmed that her fastball sometimes runs inside as well.

Fremd stranded seven runners, leaving a few in scoring positions. Wulf faced her toughest test in the fifth inning, yet managed to strike out three consecutive batters after giving up a single to Audrie Corrado.

St. Charles East relied on strong defense, notably from senior right fielder Lexi Majkszak. “A ball goes out there, I know she’s catching it,” emphasized Sujack, also committed to South Carolina, who contributed offensively with crucial plays.

In the sixth, Sujack’s single facilitated a scoring opportunity for Beers, who benefited from an error to secure the game’s only run.

Discussing Wulf’s impact, Sujack remarked, “The thing with Hannah, she’s an inside-pitch pitcher. It sounds mean, but I’d rather her have these misses on the hit by pitches because I know that her stuff is working. Her stuff was really good. Her stuff looked great.”

Looking forward to their rematch with Marist, Wulf expressed optimism, “It’s a great team. Anyone can beat anybody, any day. We’re excited.”